Latch tripping device



July 21, 1953 H. w. SANFORD, JR

LATCH TRIPPING DEVICE Filed April 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1953 H. w. SANFORD, JR 2,646,179

' LATCH TRIPPING DEVICE Filed April 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 SEA/FORD, JR.

y 1, 1953 H. w. SANFORD, JR 2,646,179

LATCH TRIPPING DEVICE Filed April 22, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet s Patented July 21 1953 LATCH TRIPPING DEVICE Hugh W. Sanford, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to The Sanford Investment Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April 22, 1947, Serial No. 743,081

1 I This invention relates to improvements in latch tripping devices, and more particularly for controlling the release of the latches of drop bottom mine cars or other conveyances that include drop bottom j doors.

This invention is an improvement particularly on the latch tripping mechanism, as set forth in the prior application of Hugh W. Sanford, Serial No. 526,426, filed March 14,1944; which has issued as Patent No. 2,458,738. In said prior application, a protecting plate extended outwardly from the end bumperover a projecting shaft on which the latches were fixed and which shaft also carried a lugin position to be engaged by a tripping device mounted in the trackway, and which tripping device engaged the lug and passed through a notch in the protecting plate. :Such device utilized a shaft that extended a cons1derable distanceout from .the sidesill, so that the tripping device would clear the car wheels and.

hubs, that presented some objection in certain installations thereof. H

' An object of this invention is to improve the construction of the tripping device, to eliminate the necessity for a notch in the protecting end plate, to locate the tripping-mechanism as close as practical to the end sills and thereby shorten the'protecting plate and the rocker shaft on which the latches are mounted. 1

Another object of the invention'is to provide an unlatching means fora drop bottom car where there is no latch lever orother device projecting out beyond the-side of the car-in an unprotected position, and where there is no unlatching means between opposite sides of the. track, and so are ranged that several unlatching devices canbe down by the car wheel treads'or hubspas thecar moves thereover, either forward or backward, and

still'will accomplish the desired tripping operation during the forward movement of the car,

over the device, while the engaging lug that is connected through a rocker shaft with the latches is located in a protected position.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by

5 Claims. (Cl. 214-58) 1 V 2 mounting the latch or car doors on a rocker shaft that projects outside of theside sills and side walls of the car or conveyance, with .an operating lug thereon,

which lug. is mountedin a protected position behind aprojecting plate or portion of the end structure of the car. This lug is in'position to.

be engaged by a tripping arm mounted in the trackway, as the car moves forward thereover, which arm extends upinto the space behind the 1protecting plate into position for engaging the ug.

Means'is provided operatively connected with the tripping arm for controlling the raised or lcweredpositions thereof, and adapted tobe en,- gaged by the wheel tread or. hub of the wheel of the car passing thereover or the engagement of a lever arm with. the protecting platepassing thereover for depressing the tripping armnntil the latter will clear the protecting plates of the car and thereafter rise up into the space behind the protecting plate inposition for engaging the operating lug. Provision is made for depressing the tripping armautomatically after operation I of the latches, to clear theend plate, as the ear passes over and beyond the tripping device. 1

; This form of the invention is illustrated, to-

gether with a modifioation thereof, in the accompanying drawings in which:

, Fig. l is a side elevation of a car showing one form of'latch tripping device associated there.-

with; A

Fig. 2 is a crosssection therethrough, with parts broken away and omitted, for clearness of illuscoal or other loose lading from a receiving point to a pit or other point of discharge. The mine car is shown generally of the type set'forth, for instance, in Patent'No. 2,001,471, granted May 14, 1935, representing a four-wheel mine carhaving three drop bottom doors, adapted to travel on a track formed b'ya pair of rails designated generally R. r

The general structure of the'car comprises side I and end 'wall structures I and 2, respectively, the side wall structures 1 rising from a pair of oppositely disposed side sills 3 connected together at the ends of the car by means of combined latches that control the ,push the latch toione side.

end-sills and bumpers designated generally 4. Each end-sill 4 includes an end plate I, fixed to the end wall 2. The side and end-sills 3 and 4, constitute the frame structure of the car for supporting the lading body of the car. The flaring side walls 1, rise upward at acute angles to the horizontal from the upper edges of the side sills 3. The car is supported on wheels 5 and axles 6;. The flaring sides I of the body are cut away to receive the wheels, which are deeply inserted therein beneath wheel hood coverings 8. Wheel hubs 9 cover the ends of the axles 6;,

The car is shown as of the character provide with three drop bottom doors; adaptedfor dis charge in one-two-three order from front to rear of the car, which doors are designated respectively l0, H and I2. Any desiredsdoorstructura may be used in which the doors are hinged for downward swinging movement. Such drop bottom mine cars usually employ doors hinged at their forward ends-and are interconnected so that the middle'andreardoorssupport the free edge of. the. next forwardv door, while the rear door is latched and may be released. for dropping of all of the doors. Where these are adapted for discharge. in one-.two-three order, as shownv in Patent-No. 2,001,471, thedoors are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, as Well as hinging movement about their hinge axes.

Thus upon release of the rear door it may drop sufficient to drag and move bodily rearward, thereby releasing the free edge of the middle door which will likewise move downward and rearward releasing the free edge of the forward door. This occurs usually just before thecar reaches the bin and permits dropping of the forward door for discharge of thelading as soon as. room enough is'provided in the bin therebeneath, the other doors dropping in succession during forward movement of the car over the bin, in one-twothree order from front to the rearof the car.

As shown in Figs. 1 to l, provision is made for latching the free edge of the rearward door [2 for thereby holding the doors [0, H. and I2; in their closed positions, retaining the lading in the car until the latching meansis released. for dumping. For this purpose latches: [8 are provided adjacent the rear end of the car, preferably spaced transversely on opposite sides of-the center ofthe car,

and pivotally supportedbyarocker shaft I9, ex-

tending transversely thereof, on: which said latches are fixed for swinging movement.

,Each of thelatches has. a: concave seat: 2.0.: (Fig.

4*) formedtherein inposition to engage thetrunnion I! attached to the free edge of the rearward door I2. to support said rearward; door: in closed position, as shown in Fig. 4.. The; seat, Zfl is located on the opposite side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the shaft I9 from. the door l2, so that the weight of; the door and the lading thereon tends tomaintainv the ;latched re lation without any tendency-forthis weight to This is particularly true because of the concave shapeof theseat 2.6 engaged by the convex: end, of the trunnion [1, whereby any movement of the, latch tending to release the door mustfirst1raiseupthe free edge of the door.

The shaft 19: is. journaled in" bracketsll fixed to the end structure of the car, and is so disposed relative to the adjacentend-sill 4 as to locate the latches I8'forward1y ofthe rear end-sill. The latches is are of a size such that their lower end portions do not projectbelow the lower edge of the adjacent end-sill, and. are disposed within the space between the rear door 12 and the rear end-sill 4 in protected positions. This prevents disarrangement of the latches or accidental injury thereto in the event of wreckage of the car, as occurs frequently in mine operation, thus insuring adequate protection of the latches to maintain them in proper operating positions.

The latches I8v and their supporting shaft H! are protected from the lading in the car by a guard or deflecting plate 22 that extends thereover and is fixed to the car end Wall structure 2. The plate .22 is rigidly fixed by rivets or Welding to the end wall structure.

Provision is made for suppoiting each latch l8 in its door engaging position, for which purpose Thave provided' a' coiled spring 23 interposed between a bracketshelf 24 and the latch I8 at the upper end thereof.

Each of the latches has a lateral pin 26 attached thereto and projecting through a slot 21 in the adjacent portion of, the bracket. 2|. The pin- 26' normally seats. on the lower end of the slot 21 to limit. the forward. swinging movement of the latch [18.

The latch supporting shaft 119; projects laterally through the flaring side, wall of. the car, but

terminates at av point; spaced inwardly from the.

vertical plane of. the adjacent flaring side wall at the point Where itextends, out farther latera1-- 1y. The projecting end of." the shaft I9 is supported in a. hanger bracket 28 suspended from the flaring side wall I. The, extreme end of the shaft 5.9, externally.- of the; bracket 28, ispreferably: square or of the. other: polygonal shape, as at 28, to receive a. monkey wrench, socket; wrench, or other means of turning. the, shaft manually to release the latches. and thusdump the lading. even When the car is inastationaryposition.

While the shaft is isprotected by the flaring side wall)ofthecanfurther: protection is afforded against damage. from obstructions inthe mine or elsewhere, by locating the shaft; in protected position between projectingxportions of the; opposite car ends or end-sill; structures. Each car end structure has a. laterally projecting plate 1 extending outwardly; beyondi the end: of the shaft IS, asshown in Fig. 2,, andnormally below the latch actuating'means. mounted thereon. The plate I has a notch.3.0;in;thB p th, of the trippi mechanism. mounted: at the track. to permit access; of theatripping'mechanism to the latch actuating means-.mount,ed:on the shaft l9. Whilethe plate 1: is shown; as: having the notch 3.0-, inthe lower edge thereof, this notch is, not. required necessarily and: may. be; omitted, if desired.

In: the form': illustrated; the shaft 19 preferably extends, only 22' short distance outside ofthe sidewall of the car, as shown in Fig. 2, with the projecting end thereof relatively close tothe side sill 3'; which lessens the danger ofv injury to the shaft in the event of wrecking the car.

Alug or operating member 32 isfixedrigidly on the; projecting; end of the shaft l9, preferably justv inside of thehanger bracket. 28, and also in protected position behindthe protecting plate 7, as it-projectsoutwardly from, the end-sill structure. Thisrprojecting' portion of the plate, 1' at eachend of the carextends-laterally. sufii'ciently to-protect. andconfinebehindthe plate, the major portionof the lengthof the projecting end of the shaft l9,- and.-also the operating member 32. If

the-notch 3l'ris used in the loweredgeof the plate 1, the operating member 32 has its lower end terminating preferably above the upper edge of'the notch so, said operating member is. entirely procar latch mechanism;

tected-by said plate agains't'dangerof accidental.

contact with objects alongthe-trackway, which I The tripping deviceis mounted in the trackway in a position laterally of the rail R, on a suitable support mounted in the trackway. Inthe form illustrated in Figs. 2'and 3, this tripping device includes a tripping'arm illustrated generally at 33, extending upwardly and forwardly relative to the direction of movement of the car along the trackway, carrying a tripping hook 34 onthe upper end thereof. The tripping hook 34 is in position to engage a notch 3| in the latch operating member 32, as shown in Fig. 3, as the car moves over the tripping device. The contacting faces of the-notch 31 and hook' 34 are so arranged that the engagement will be maintained therebetween as the car moves along the trackway over the tripping device. This will cause swingingmovement of the operating member 32; turning the shaft is to release the latches l8 from the door. I

'Thetripping arm 33 is fixed on a, shaft 35,

'journaled in a bearing box'36 in the trackway.

Also fixed to the arm 33 or to the shaft 35 is a depending lug 31 connected at itslower end with one-end of a coiled springv 38. The opposite end of the coiled spring 38 is connected with a screw member 39, held in adjusted relation by a bracket 46 fixed in the trackway." The spring 38 acts" on the lug 31, normally tending to'hold the tripping arm '33 in its elevated position until depressed by the passage of the car'thereover. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by the adjustment of the screw member 39 relative to the bracket 40.

Also fixed on the shaft 35 at a point spaced inwardly frc'm'the tripping arm 33 is a lever arm 4| that extendssubstantially parallel with the tripping arm '33, as shown in Fig.3. The upper end of-the lever arm 4| is pivotally connected portion in positionto' be engaged by the protect-- ing plate i, as the car-passes thereover for de pressing the tripping device sufiiciently to clear the end-sill structure includingthe projecting portion of the plate 1. Then upon release of the pressure from the tripping device, the spring 38 will cause the tripping arm 33 to be raised into the path of the operating member 32, as shown in Fig. 3. When these parts 32-and 34 are engaged as shown, the continued movement of the car over the tripping device; will cause a swinging movement of the operating member 32 to the dotted line position, shown in Fig 3, thereby swinging the latch hooks 18 to release the door.

. As the guide member ,4! reaches the relative pountil it is raised into proper position for ope'r-j 44. After passage 'ou't'of' contact therewith, the operatinghook 34 will be-raised into position to engagethe operating member32 by the action of the spring 38, and then tobe deflected under the. pate l, permitting the car to pass over the tripping device.

A modified form of tripping device is shown in Fig. 5, in which the operating member on the shaftIS is designated 50. This operating memher is in position to be engaged by a tripping arm 5|, that extends upwardlyand rearwardly relativeto the direction of travel of the vehicle, and has the upper end in position toengage the forward face of the operating member to rotate the shaft l9 for release of the latch hooks.

Theupper end portion of the tripping arm 5| carries. a deflecting member 52, which has'an inclinedgupperedge injposition to engage under the end plate l to depress the tripping arm in properly timed relation for passage of the car over the tripping device, substantially in the manner described above in connection with Figs. This tripping arm 5| and deflecting member 52 may be en a ed and depressed either by the wheel'treads or hubs of the wheels, asthe car passes over the tripping device, which will cause a loweringmovement of the tripping arm ating the member 50. y

The tripping arm 5| is mounted on afshaft 63 and is fixed to adepending lug 54. Thelower end portion of the lug 54 is connected with; one end of a spring 55, the opposite end of which spring 55 is anchored at 56. The'tension ofthe spring normally tends to raise the tripping arm 5! to its operating position.

This arm may be lowered manuallywhenfdesired, 'as for the passage of cars over the trip-, ping device without dumping, as shown in Fig.

5 ,A flexible device 51 is shown as connected with the lower end portion of the big, andexj tending therefrom to the lower endofa lever The lever 58 is-pivotally mounted at 59.

'58. Thus upon swinging movement of the lever 58 in a. clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower end of the lug .54 will be moved toward the left to cause a lowering action of the tripping arm 5|, permitting passage of the cars thereover without dumping.

' invention makes it possible to protect the sition, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the curved latch means on the car against danger of strik-v ing obstructions along the trackway, eliminating the latch lever or other device projecting out beyond the side of the car inan unprotected position as has been used heretofore. Moreover, the unlatching or tripping means can be used to dump the cars selectively at different positions in the bin or hopper without interference by the open doors hanging between the rails, of cars that have been unlatched or dumped previously. g 1

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain-embodiments thereof, it is -ture, to cause a'defiecting action of the tripping V 'device, and a positive lowering of'thetripping arm 33 and hook 34, underneath the endvsill thereby.

' engaging both the lever arm 4| and the link 44,

recognized. that variations and changes may be made -therein',vwithout departing from the invention, except as specifiedin the claims.

I claim: .1 1'. In; conveying mechanism including a dumping conveyance mounted on a trackway and having'a frame structure with transverse end portions and projecting portions therebetweem, a.

acre-me '7 dropbottomdoormounted ion the'frame structure for opening movement relative thereto, latch means: for holding thedoor. closed; and movable to release saidv door:for dropping, a shaft connected with the latch meansifor moving the latch means to. release the door, said shaft extending,

transversely of the conveyance and having an.

end portion thereof projecting externally of the frame structure, an operating member mounted.

the framestructure when the conveyance is in.

dumping-position, means mounting said tripping mechanism for raising and lowering movements of the tripping mechanism relative to-the' operating member, saidtripping mechanism being in position for engagement by the projecting portion therebetween of the conveyance to be depressed beneath said portion and for raising movement into-engagementwith the operating member at a point above the lower edge of said laterally extendingportion of the frame structure, said tripping mechanism including a tripping member in position for engaging the operating member, a link, and a lever member connected with the tripping, member and pivotally connected with the link and arranged in position for engagement by the laterally extending portion-of the conveyance for'loweringthe tripping member during passage thereover ofsaid laterally extending portion of the conveyance.

'2. In conveying mechanism including a dumping conveyance mounted on a trackwa'y and having a frame structure with transverse end portions' and projecting portions therebetween, a drop bottom door mounted on the frame structure for opening movement relative thereto, latch means for holding the door closed and movable to release said door for dropping, a shaft con-' end portion thereof projecting externally of the frame structure, an operating member mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft, said frame structure including a portion extending laterally ofthe conveyance in overlapping relation with the operating member and the proj ecting portion of the shaft and with said operating member and shaft disposed approximately above the lower edge of said projecting frame portion inprotected positions, tripping mechanism mounted in the trackway in position laterally of the frame structure when the conveyance is in dumping position, means mounting said tripping mechanism for raising and lowering movements of the tripping mechanism relative to the operating member, said tripping mechanism being in position for engagement by the projecting portion therebetween of'the conveyance to be depressed beneath said portion and for raising movement} into engagement with the operating member at a point above the lower edge of said laterally extending portion of the frame structure; said tripping mechanism including a tripping member in'position for'engagingthe operat ing member; alink, a lever memberconnectedwith thetrippingmemberand'pivotally connected with 8? therlinlcandarrangedin positionfor engagement by'the laterally extending; portion of the con-' vey'ance for lowering the trippingmemberduring passage-thereover ofJSaidlateralIy extending portion of the conveyance, and means for automaticallyt raising. the: tripping member into position fortrippingtengagement with the operating memberupon release of the levermember and link froircen'gagement therewith: of the projecting por-- tions bet-ween the end portions: of the conveyance 31- In conveying mechanism including a dumping conveyance mounted. ona-traclcway and. having a' frame structure with transverse end por tiOl'lSi and projecting portions therebetween, a drop bottom. door mounted; on the: frame struc' turefor opening movement. relative-thereto, latch: means for holding the door closed and movable to release said door. for dropping, a shaft con-- nected withthe latcl'rmeansfor moving the latch;

. means to mlease. the door, said. shaft extending,

transversely" of the conveyance and having an: end portion thereof." projecting; externally of: the frame structure, an. operating member mounted on the projecting end portion. of the shaft, said frame structure including a portion extending laterally of the conveyance: in overlapping relation with the'operating member and the project-- ing portion of the shaft and: with said operating member and shaft disposed approximately abovethe lower edgeof said projecting frame portion in protected positions, tripping mechanism mounted in the trackway in position laterally of the frame structure when the conveyance is in clumping position, meansmounting' said tripping mechanism for raising and; lowering movements of the tripping'mechanism relative to the operating member, said tripping mechanism being in position for engagement by the projecting portion therebetween of the conveyance to be depressed beneath said portion and for raising movement into engagement with the operating; member at apoint above the lower edge of said laterally extendingportion of the frame structure, said tripping mechanism including a tripping member mounted in the. trackway in position for raising and lowering movements. relative thereto and adaptedto engage the operating member terelease the latch, and lever members connected with the tripping member and piv-- otally connected together, said lever members. being mounted laterally of the tripping member and laterally outside of the frame structure in position for engagement by the laterally extending portionof theframe structure of the conveyance during movement of the conveyance. over the tripping mechanism todepress the. tripping member out of engagement with said operating member;

45'. A-latch tripping deviceadapted to control the releaseof a drop bottom door on a'conveyance; comprising a tripping. member having an. engaging portion thereon adapted to engage latch release mechanism on'the conveyance, a shaft mounting, thei tripping member for raising and lowering movements; spring means connected with the. shaft and rotating the shaft and nor mally tending to urge the tripping member to a mis da tipn, a lever member fixed to the shaft and turning therewith. and. extending upwardly therefromsubstantially parallel with the tripping. member-,and-a second member operatively connected with the upper portion of the. lever member andiextending' laterally in the opposite directionLtherefromsaid lever member and sec- 0nd member being adapted to be engaged by under portions of the conveyance. v v

5. A latch tripping device adapted to control the release of latch means of a drop bottom door on a conveyance, comprising a pair of lever members inclined toward each other, means pivotally connecting adjacent end portions of said members together for raising and lowering movement, means pivotally mounting the lower end portions of said members for relative swinging movement, resiliently acting means normally tending to urge said members to a raised position, and alatch release member connected with said members for ment with the latch ing an upright abutment face thereon for engagemeans.

HUGH W. SANFORD, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 905,080 Jones Nov. 24, 1998 1,195,975 Carmichael Aug. 29, 1916 1,796,348 Sanford Mar. 17, 1931 2,458,738 Sanford Jan. 11, 1949 2,487,447 Kepner Nov. 8, 1949 

